Talking Past Each Other: The Russo-Japanese War (1905) in Japanese and

Russian Textbooks, 1997-2010.

Elena Kolesova (Unitec Institute of Technology, New

Zealand)Ryota Nishino (The University of the South

Pacific, Fiji)

Starting points

• The relations between Japan and Russia

• Why the Russo-Japanese War?

• Why school history textbooks?

• What ‘didactic lessons’ do textbooks present?

• 29 April, 2013

Methodology• 22 Japanese middle-school textbooks (1997,

2002 and 2007), age 13-15• 22 Russian high school and the last year of

middle school, age 15-17• History textbooks published between 1997-

2010• 1997 Atarashii Rekishi o Tsukurukai [ 新しい

歴史教科書をつくる会 ]• 2001 The Government Programme of Patriotic

Education in Russia

The Russo-Japanese War - 日露戦争 Русско-Японская война - 1904-1905

• Rivalry over the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria between Japan and Russia

• In February 1904 Japan broke its diplomatic ties with Russia and declared war

• Russia lost all key battles on land and at sea• 1905-07 the First Russian revolution• 1905 - the Portsmouth Treaty• Japanese secured its hold over Korea but not the

reparation awards from Russia

Japanese textbooks: war by popular demand

“Within Japan, voices calling for war with Russia began to emerge. Although Christian Uchimura Kanzô and Socialist Kôtokuu Shûsui maintained pacifist (anti-war) argument, public opinion inside the nation leaned towards the pro-war camp. In 1904 Japan declared war on Russia, and the Russo-Japanese War began.” (Shimizu Shoin, 1997)

Japanese textbooks: war by popular demand

“Russia, which had a national budget and military capacity ten times larger than those of Japan, had reinforced the troops in Manchu, and constructed military bases in northern Korea. If these had continued unchecked, it would have been patently clear that Russia’s military power would have been so strong that Japan could not meet the challenge.

Japanese textbooks: war by popular demand

The cabinet was afraid of leaving it until too late, and resolved to initiate war with Russia. In February 1904, Japan announced the termination of diplomatic relations with Russia, which marked the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War.” (Fusôsha, 2006)

Russian textbooks: the war begins by Japanese aggression

Some circles close to the Tsar did not understand the danger of the potential military collision with Japan but, quite the opposite, tried to encourage the conflict and believed that ‘the small and victorious war’ with Japan will bring together the Russian public and strengthen the monarchy. This was an important reason negotiations between the two countries were sabotaged.” (Chubaryan, 2007)

Japanese textbooks: war by popular demand

“Within Japan, voices calling for war with Russia began to emerge. Although Christian Uchimura Kanzô and Socialist Kôtokuu Shûsui maintained pacifist (anti-war) argument, public opinion inside the nation leaned towards the pro-war camp. In 1904 Japan declared war on Russia, and the Russo-Japanese War began.” (Shimizu Shoin, 1997)

Japanese textbooks: saving Japanese face, downplaying wartime killing

• The war against the major power, Russia, was difficult. But the Japanese military defeated the Russians, and advanced into south Manchuria. The Japanese fleet led by Togo Heihachiro comprehensively defeated the Russian fleet at the Battle of Tsushima. […] The Japanese side, too, had many casualties […] (Kyôiku Shuppan, 2002 and 2006)

Russian textbooks: focus on soldier’s heroism and downplay Russian war losses

“From the complete and devastating defeat Russia was rescued by the heroism and courage of the Russian soldiers and seamen. The legendary ‘Varyag’ battleship and ‘Koreets’ ship, that took part in an unequal battle with the Japanese fleet near Korean city Chemulpo, became a legend, and not only of Russian history.

Russian textbooks: focus on soldier’s heroism and downplay Russian war losses

Russian heroes, even the prisoners of war, were paid homage even by their captures, who admired their bravery and faithfulness to their military obligation….”(Danilov, 2009)

Russian textbooks: focus on soldier’s heroism and downplay Russian war losses

“In August 1904 under Liaoyang, the Japanese tried to surround and destroy Russian army. The Russians show incredible resilience. Japanese lost in this battle 24,000 solders against only 15,000 Russian soldiers”. (Levandovskii, 2003)

Japanese textbooks: conditions for troops and domestic populations inside Japan

“The strength of the troops and ammunition ran out while tax increases made the lives of the Japanese people difficult. Dissatisfaction amongst the Russian people increased during the war and with the news of their defeat. A revolutionary movement occurred to oppose the Tsarist regime, which made the war difficult to continue.” (Nihon Bunkyô Shuppan, 1997)

Japanese textbooks: popular reaction to the conclusion of the war

“Despite the enormity of her sacrifice, Japan was unable to secure reparations and had to be content with gaining small territories and concessions. The people in Japan attacked the government fiercely and in Tokyo mass protest developed into rioting.” (Tokyo Shoseki, 1997)

Japanese textbooks: popular reaction to the conclusion of the war

“However, strong dissatisfaction with [the government’s failure in] securing reparations was expressed by the Japanese public, who had co-operated with the war effort and made large sacrifices. Many newspapers criticised the government and crowds shouting their opposition to the Peace Treaty attacked the residences of ministers, police stations, pro-government newspaper offices, and Christian churches.” (Kyôiku Shuppan , 1997 and 2002)

Japanese textbooks: popular reaction to the conclusion of the war

“Japan was unable to gain reparations. But a group of people who did not know that the national capacity had reached its limit was dissatisfying and caused riots.” (Fusôsha, 2006)

The conclusion of the war in Russian textbooks

“Russia was not prepared for the war ideologically. Kuropatkin wrote: “The Japanese army was very patriotic, it received the support of the whole nation, every person in the army knew the importance of this war”. However, the Russian nation was not united in the pursuit of victory… .The losses caused by poor leadership resulted in disappointment and regrets. Such sentiments became the catalyst for the revolution of 1905-1907.” (Danilov, 2009)

The conclusion of the war in Russian textbooks

“Despite some concessions gained by Russia during the negotiations [in Portsmouth] the war with Japan seriously damaged political stability in Russia. The defeat was perceived by the public as national humiliation and resulted in the loss of confidence in government and monarchy.” (Yakemenko, 2003)

Comparison

• J txbs: tend to focuc on the hardship of Japanese population; encourage pacifism

• Rtxbs: bolster patriotic sentiments by praising the soldier’s efforts against the Japanese despite the defeat

In conclusion

• The textbooks are factually accurate• R txbs and R txbs serve to strengthen the position of

the state but use different narrative strategies to achieve this goal.

• R txbs - glorifying war trauma• J txbs – blame Japanese public for the war + pacifism• R and J txbs tell the story as if they were describing

two different wars with relatively few areas of convergence, leaving the impression of ‘talking to each other’.